Three Short Plays

Abstract

Three Short Plays Asghar Wajahat (bio) Translated by Alok Bhalla are you my enemy? 1 “Are you my enemy?”“No, not at all.”“No?”“No!”“Never were?”“No!”“Never will be?”“Never will be.”“Will you swear?“Yes, I’ll swear by anyone you like.”“Alright, are you one of us?”“Yes, I am one of you.”“With your whole being?”“Yes, with my whole being.”“Do you agree with what we say?”“Yes, I agree with what you say.”“Do you agree with what we think?”“Yes, I agree with what you think.”“Do you agree with what we do?”“Yes, I agree with what you do,”“Do you agree with what we have done?”“Yes, I agree with what you have done.”“Will you accept what we may do?”“Yes, I’ll accept what you may do.”“Will you accept what we may not do?”“Yes, I’ll accept what you may not do.”“No, you do not agree with us.”“How can you say that?”“We can say what we like... You do not agree with us!”“No, no, how can you say that... I agree with you.” [End Page 111] “So, you do not agree with us.”“But...”“You oppose us.”“But...”“You are our enemy.”“But...”“You are our greatest enemy.”“But...”“You are responsible for all the problems in the country.”“But...”“If you do not exist all the problems would be solved.”“But...”“But you must stay.”“What do you mean... must stay?”“Yes, must stay.”“I don’t understand.”“You must stay.”“Alright... but I don’t understand.”“No, you don’t understand... But, believe me, you are our enemy.”“But...”“Our enemy from the beginning and forever.”“But... why?”“If you’re not our enemy, we’ll cease to be.” 2 “Listen.”“Yes.”“Continue to be our enemy.”“Why not your friend?”“It’s easier to be an enemy.”“Why not a friend?”“Friendship is very difficult.”“Why?”“It’s easier to kill an enemy.”“And a friend?”“Friendship is more complicated.” [End Page 112] 3 “Listen.”“Yes.”“Continue to be our enemy.”“Why?”“So that we continue to be afraid.”“What are the advantages of fear?”“Fear has many advantages.”“What advantages?”“Shall I tell you the biggest advantage?”“Yes, tell me.”“The biggest advantage is that as long as we are afraid, we’ll not hold each other’s hands.” 4 “Listen.”“Yes.”“Continue to be our enemy.”“Why?”“So that we can be angry.”“What’s the use of being angry?”“Anger has many advantages.”“What advantages?”“It helps us move our hands and feet, digest our food, control our blood pressure, and forget everything else.” 5 “Hey, enemy! Is what you think about yourself correct?”“Yes, it is correct.”“Who told you that what you think about yourself is correct?”“No one.”“Then it is wrong.”“Why?”“Because what you think about yourself is wrong.”“Who knows what is correct?”“I do... That’s why what you know about yourself is wrong.”“Then how do I know what is correct?”“What I tell you.” [End Page 113] the cheapest meat: a street-corner play Cast of CharactersNarrator Hindu LeaderMuslim LeaderPunditMullahHooligansCrowd: Hindus, Muslims, Individual VoicesMan narrator [enters and begins to sing] Hindu-Muslim-Sikh-Christian Are not neighbors, are not kin. When they get together, they fight, Punch, kick, burn! What a show of might! Here, there, everywhere the same sight, They fight, every day they fight and fight.[changes the tune] In the name of religion, they tear children apart. In the name of religion, they cut off women’s breasts. In the name of religion, they burn people alive. In the name of religion, they manage a market of corpses.Exits. Hindu Leader and Muslim Leader enter, holding hands. hindu and muslim leaders [dancing and singing] We are the leaders of our community. We are not Hindu, we are not Muslim. We work hard to murder with impunity. We are not Hindu, we are not Muslim. hindu leader Elections are upon us once again and we still have so much to do. Getting votes was expensive... In my electoral...